Great Basin National Park | Lehman Caves | Nevada

I always have to stop to see interesting things left in a field.

Great Basin has ranching exhibit with a shelter over it, and along the rails at the top are these metal cutouts.

Great Basin National Park covers a massive amount of square miles, although some areas are not easily accessible.  The drive to Wheeler Peak is very scenic, another one of those steep roads with some drop-offs that I can't look at while I'm driving.

 

Lehman Caves was the highlight of my tour of the park.  The cave tours are all reserved and led by rangers.  Although it may be hot outside, the caves stay about 50 degrees, we were warned to bring a jacket. 

 

The little wavy formation hanging down is called Cave Bacon because it kind of looks like bacon.  I have seen it in other caves where it actually looked more like bacon. 

These next 3 formations are actually overhead.

 

 

All these photos were taken with available light, since they requested no flashes, which is typical of these tours. 

Some of the areas were lit quite well, like this one. 

 

This is not a usual color for caves, but here it is.

 

 

I thought this was a cute sign.  Not only was there a stop sign at the corner, and the arrows pointing each way, but someone decided Whoa would work better.  The blurry gray squares were political signs, so I blocked them out.

 

 

If you're in this neighborhood, definitely plan on visiting, lots of good scenery and a cool cave tour. 

Ely | Train Museum | Nevada

 

If there's a train ride, I'm ready to go.  Not only did I get to ride the train, but there's a museum and we are allowed access to the giant train garage and workshop.  The photo below is the main museum, gift shop and other offices.

 

Ely is mostly desert, but this proves there are green fields in the area!

There are 2 tunnels on the ride and this seems like the most modern. 

At the end of the ride, near the mine before they do the turn-around, they have some old-time buildings, a graveyard with humorous "headstones" and a few other things.

I just figure this must be the hanging "tree", but it might just be my imagination.

 

I think the majority of the people on board rode in the open car, although they did have the regular passenger cars.

 

Back at the station, there are many buildings, some quite rustic.

 

 

 

This guy looks like an old pro at this.

Inside the huge building that houses train engines and the workshop are other interesting finds.  I think this is an antique caboose.

Since it does snow in this area, they have this engine, a rotary snow plow - I guess someone has to get rid of all that white stuff.

There are numerous other engines just sitting around.

 

 

 

I'm not sure what this would be, but it was there too.

 

 

A view of another building in the yard, but one we didn't get to tour.

 

 

The mechanic shop had all sorts of huge equipment, even the drills were giant sized.

 

  

 

 

Ely | Ward Mountain Forest Service Campground | Nevada

Ely is proud of their murals, there are quite a few.  The one above shows the railroad being built and the one below shows the Ward Charcoal Ovens, located just outside the town about 10 miles.  That area is now a State Park.  They were used in the mining industry back in the 1800s.

Other murals are left on buildings and were used as signs.  I think this one was used for different signs in the past. 

Others depict life in years gone by.

The Great Basin National Park is not too far away from Ely, and this mural portrays the Lehman caves that are in the park.

Another sign, up to date, is advertising a hotel/casino.  They have set aside a large lot in back of this building for truckers and RVers  who want to park overnight, or just go in for some fun.

There are probably about 5-6 casinos in town, quite a few for such a small town.

To get to the campground, it was only about 5 miles on this road - but if you were going further, you better check your gas gauge.  Many roads in Nevada have these signs to warn you that there's nothing available.

The Forest Service did a great job on this campground, my site was large and surrounded by trees, so it was quite nice.  Of course, this is dry camping - so bring solar panels or a generator.

Another view of the campsite - and there is a large area in back where there is a table, fire ring and stand for a grill, plus a tent pad!

Of course, they have hiking trails - this is the scene on one of them.

One night, there was an interesting sunset.

Another night, there was this sunset.